Advice for touring Yorkshire?

Quoted post said:

I'm going to Yorkshire for the first time, though I've cycled in
Britain before, next week. Flying to Durham Tees Valley airport from
Cork. That's east of Darlington I understand. We've 9 days
cycling. Was thinking of Yorkshire Moors and Dales. Anyone got any
must-do route advice? We (my wife and I) will do up to 70m/day,
depending on terrain, but if it's as hilly as I suspect, down to
maybe 45 or less.

There is the Yorkshire Dales Cycleway. I did it last bank holiday, in
three days of about 70km/day. There is a *lot* of up (and down) hill
in it. If you are starting from Teesside, I'd recommend cycling via
Richmond (nice old town) to Reeth on the first day.

Are you camping, or looking for Bed & Breakfast accommodation? I can
provide details of excellent campsites just west of Healaugh/Reeth,
and near Ingleton.

It's generally recommended to do the circuit clockwise - gentler
ascents and steeper descents - beware of the infamous Park Rash[1]
just north of Kettlewell - 1 in 3. It's all on road - mostly quiet,
though there are a couple of bits of main road, notably from Dent Head
into Hawes, though this is a nice fast bit of downhill.

This is a list of the *major* ascents, there is quite a bit more
gentler up and down.

From Swaledale to Kettlewell and on to Grassington:

Start High point Distance
Grinton Moor 180m 463m 3km
Out of Wensley 107m 258m 2km
Hunters Stone 300m 503m 3km

From Grassington to Ingleton:

Malham Tarn 200m 380m 1.5km

From Ingleton to Swaledale:

Kingsdale (1) 130m 292m 2km
Kingsdale (2) 300m 468m 2.5km
Dent Head 285m 409m 1.2km
Askrigg Common 220m 520m 2.5km

Harvey's Maps do a dedicated guide, complete with useful telephone
numbers, etc.

<http://www.harveymaps.co.uk/acatalog/HARVEY_Cycling_maps.html>

I have some photos from my trip -
<http://www.wylie.me.uk/static/KMC20050402/>

I don't have any experience of the North York Moors, but be warned
about the B1257 - it is used as a racetrack by "born again" bikers.

[1] What a small world - googling for "Park Rash" turns up on the
first page a reference to "Ollie's fabulous organ" - a newsletter
edited by a very good friend of mine.

--
Alan J. Wylie http://www.wylie.me.uk/
"Perfection [in design] is achieved not when there is nothing left to add,
but rather when there is nothing left to take away."
-- Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Quoted message said:

I'm going to Yorkshire for the first time, though I've cycled in
Britain before, next week. Flying to Durham Tees Valley airport from
Cork. That's east of Darlington I understand. We've 9 days cycling. Was
thinking of Yorkshire Moors and Dales.
Anyone got any must-do route advice? We (my wife and I) will do up to
70m/day, depending on terrain, but if it's as hilly as I suspect, down
to maybe 45 or less.

Thanks lads and lassies.

You could cycle north about 30/40 miles to Sunderland/Newcastle (on
Sustrans National Route 1) and do the loop of the Reivers Route to
Whitehaven followed by the C2C back. It will give you a real mix of
city, Northumberland,Lake District National Parks and the Pennines with
a mix of lowland, mountains, industrial heritage etc and a route that is
well used by cyclists and has plenty of provisions for cyclists. Round
trip is 327 miles and 6 days is a comfortable round trip.

--
Tony

"A facility for quotation covers the absence of original thought" Lord
Peter Wimsey (Dorothy L. Sayers)

Quoted message said:

I'm going to Yorkshire for the first time, though I've cycled in
Britain before, next week. Flying to Durham Tees Valley airport from
Cork. That's east of Darlington I understand. We've 9 days cycling. Was
thinking of Yorkshire Moors and Dales.
Anyone got any must-do route advice? We (my wife and I) will do up to
70m/day, depending on terrain, but if it's as hilly as I suspect, down
to maybe 45 or less.

Thanks lads and lassies.

I cycled round there this time last year. The NCN route 1 was good, but I
found the national byway (I didn't know it existed before I saw the road signs
to say I was on it), and that was better. Follows pleasant, reasonably quite
country lanes rather than the mix of cinder/rough track that you get on the
NCN. More info here http://www.thenationalbyway.org/
Enjoy the ride Phil

Early 80's. Our cycling club summer tour, we were staying in a small
place somewhere in Yorkshire, there were about 12 of us on tour. We
left the Hostel and headed to the nearest Pub to replace the essential
liquids we had lost during the hard day, yea, yea. As the pub filled
up we were aware that we were being talked about as it was obvious
from the glances and muttered comments that something was up. Now we
had been told that Yorkshire people were friendly and welcoming.
Eventually one of their number plucked up courage came over and said:
You lads like dominoes?
No we replied, its not a game that is played in pubs where we come
from.
Then why he said, are you sitting on the dominoes table?
This mystified us as the table we were on looked like all the other
tables in the pub! Then he pointed out that the table swivelled up and
over revealing the green cloth! We apologised profusely and moved to
another table - they were as good as gold after that.

Moral of the story - don't for Petes sake sit on the domino table in
Yorkshire!

Thanks very much for detailed advice. Will print and take with me. We
stay in hotels and B&Bs as my wife is a "pea princess". The idea of a
tent would make her heart stop, though I'd love it!

Quoted post said:

Thanks very much for detailed advice. Will print and take with
me. We stay in hotels and B&Bs as my wife is a "pea princess". The
idea of a tent would make her heart stop, though I'd love it!

The Yorkshire Dales[1] Accommodation Guide is available free from
National Park Centres and information points. In the summer booking in
advance is advisable, especially at weekends.

There are two 1:25000 Ordnance Survey maps covering the Yorkshire
Dales Cycle Way: OL2[2] and OL3[3].

The Cycle Way is signed - sometimes it's just a weatherbeaten blue
sticker on a signpost, though.

[4] has some useful information for cyclists, including a brief list
of the towns and villages on route, but I'd strongly recommend buying
the Harvey's map.

I hope that you have a great time, and the weather is fine for you.

[1] http://www.yorkshiredales.org/
http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/oswebsite/mapshop/
[2] http://62.25.96.208/products_new/25k/specific.cfm?M25k_no=O2W
[3] http://62.25.96.208/products_new/25k/specific.cfm?M25k_no=O30S
[4] http://www.traveldales.org.uk/cycling.cfm

--
Alan J. Wylie http://www.wylie.me.uk/
"Perfection [in design] is achieved not when there is nothing left to add,
but rather when there is nothing left to take away."
-- Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Thanks again Alan.
Will look up all those links.

Garry.